Restricting the bask to directly under the heat lamp.Filed under: Do it, How to do it, Sewed it | Tags: burdastyle, French seam, how to, How to do it
French seams encase the raw seam edges securely inside two seams. They’re necessary for delicate fabrics, because two seams are stronger than one and the two lines of stitching prevent fraying. But French seams also are fabulous for garments with simple, straight lines because they’re beautifully clean and neat, and need no more finishing. I’m hooked, mostly because I hate finishing edges.
Here’s the center back seam of BurdaStyle’s Minna top.
Take the seam allowance of the seam and divide it into two whole numbers. So a 5/8″ allowance becomes 2/8″ (1/4″), plus 3/8″.
measuring seam allowancePin the pieces together wrong sides together.
pinned wrong sides togetherSew the smaller number first – the 2/8″ (1/4″) seam allowance. I’ve done so by using the 3/8″ guide, and setting the needle placement to the right.
first seam always should be smaller
Trim the raw edges, leaving 1/8″.
trim so threads don’t poke through finished seam
Push the raw edges to one side, and press flat.
ironing while sewing’s a mustNow fold the fabric over at the seam, so the right sides are facing each other. Press and tack with a few pins.
take the time to pressBack at the machine, sew your remaining 3/8″ seam.
sewing the bigger seam second leaves more room to catch edges and threads
Voila! A 5/8″ seam with no rough raggedy edges.
French seam from wrong side
And from right sideCheck out the how to on Burda Style here.
Filed under: Do it, Fixed it, Made it, Sewed it | Tags: burdastyle, Chicago, evil eye, Freecycle, freezer paper stencil, pattern, purple
I spotted several Anda bastardizations in Old Navy ads lately, which prompted me to finally make one already:
And so I’m spending a day with myself (while the Mister works a nightshift), mocking up an Anda in light purple poly fabric I got from a kind Chicago Freecycler, since it’s fabric I don’t love love love, but could totally live with if the pattern fits and flatters. Other beauty of the solid color is that it’ll totally cry out for freezer paper stenciling once it’s done, and I’ve been thinking about evil eye designs for only the last decade or so. Such a charming, basic dress. Here’s hoping. I don’t use Burda Style patterns enough, though I’m beginning to look at them more.
Might have to mess with the neckline a la Old Navy ads, though, since that high Anda neck doesn’t flatter a bust such as my own. Let the experiment begin!
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Ugh. Anda that matches my measurements is an awful tent.
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I’ve since pulled in the sides considerably. Instead of putting in elastic, I experimented with a purple sequined belt at different “waists”: high, natural, drop. They’re all terrible. Might have to face it.
Anda just might not work for me.
Filed under: Do it, Love it, Made it | Tags: alter, burdastyle, ellinor, Minna, Salvy, sew along, wardrobe refashion
This Minna #6007 (shortened to a top) is an ancient refashion. It’s my first completion of a BurdaStyle pattern, and I like it a whole lot. I cut it short, and changed the neck trim to a lined fabric facing.
To cut the dress into a top, I pretty much used the double lines marked on the pattern around the hipline for lengthening or shortening. And instead of using a fancy trim to finish the neck, I used the cutting guide to make bias strips. The print is already so fabulous it doesn’t need any sparkly help.
I had bought a fluorescent print maxidress at the Salvy during my later high school years. Think 1993. I wanted to chop off the skirt and the top of a pair of thrifted overalls and make a kind dress the kids were wearing then (I promise!). Chopped the overalls, chopped the dress, got caught up in something else, and then realized what a ridiculous trend it was. My sister (10 years my junior) then raided my sewing stash and pilfered a strip of the skirt. I remember throwing a fit, but not what she made, it was that long ago.
It took some doing, but I managed to cut out the front and back so the pattern goes the same way, and the back pieces nearly match. Only enough fabric remained for one set of bias strips, so I cut another set to line the neck piece out of plain black synthetic fabric. Sewed the fabric pieces together to form a V, ditto for lining, sewed them together along the top, right sides together. Then I popped in a movie to handsew the bottom side of the lining invisibly.
When I make another Minna – and I certainly will – I’ll gather the front and back tighter to leave more room in the armholes. I’ll also copy the neckline since I liked the smooth, neat finish inside. (Will post the steps on BurdaStyle – this time was too trial-and-error to photograph.)
Next on the list: Ellinor #8516, using brown clearance cotton from a Joann sale, and brown sparkly eyelet from the Hobby Lobby clearance wall. Not too late, I think, to Sew Along With Nikkishell on the BurdaStyle site.
Filed under: Love it, Made it | Tags: burdastyle, Minna, Salvy, wardrobe refashion
The thing I like about this Minna pattern from Burdastyle is that it gives a girl a little shape.
Can’t stand the preggers-chic of all the babydoll tops and big blousy things that just make me look like a whale. I have a bosom and hips, so once my waist is lost, so goes my self-esteem the way of the blob.
I have this chunk of fabric (feels like the stuff of a real Hawaiian shirt) from an ancient high school shopping trip to the Roxborough Salvy. Think 1993.
I bought the maxidress it was part of wanting to chop off the skirt and the bib of a pair of thrifted overalls and make a kind dress the kids were wearing then (I promise!). Chopped the overalls, chopped the dress, got caught up in something else, and then realized what a ridiculous trend it was. My sister (10 years my junior) then raided my sewing stash and pilfered a strip of the skirt. I remember throwing a fit, but not what she made, it was that long ago.
Finally, I pulled out the remnant with Minna in mind. Ignored the directions to use something fancy on the neck, since the print is already so… fabulous.
The mockup using Freecycled fabric seemed to work. The size I cut fits me. Style works, too. No bulges.
I’m ready to take the BurdaStyle plunge.
